This publication summarises the results of a survey on safety in the home. The survey was conducted on selected households throughout Queensland during October 2001 as a supplement to the Monthly Population Survey.

The aim of the survey was to provide data to assist the Queensland Government, in particular Queensland Health, to run targeted awareness campaigns and enable the development of other intervention/prevention strategies and projects.

Information was collected on selected household safety features and potential hazards in the home. Specific attention was given to households where young children or older persons were present. Various safety features such as the presence of smoke detectors and hot water thermostats, prevention strategies such as first aid training, risk factors including pool ownership and playground equipment were investigated. Other demographic data collected includes type of dwelling and home ownership.

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

Of the estimated 1,409,900 households in Queensland, (643,400 or 45.6%) were located in the Brisbane Major Statistical Region (MSR) and (766,500 or 54.4%) were located in the Balance of Queensland MSR. In general, results were similar across both regions.

Of all households, just over one quarter (26.2% or 369,200) of households had anti-slip surfaces or strips, including rubber mats, used or fitted in the bath or shower.

The majority of households (70.2% or 990,200) had internal or external steps or stairs. Of those households, almost one quarter (24.5% or 243,100) had guards or gates at the top and/or bottom of the steps/stairs.

Nearly seven out of ten households (69.1% or 973,700) had smoke alarms or smoke detectors installed. This represents a significant increase from October 1996 when smoke alarms or smoke detectors were installed in only 38.7% (473,600) of households. In October 2001, of the households with smoke alarms or smoke detectors installed, only 12.9% (125,900) tested them 'more than once a month' with 19.4% (189,200) reporting they never tested their smoke alarms or smoke detectors.

One fifth of all households (20.6% or 290,800) had a swimming pool or outdoor spa. Swimming pools were in (277,800 or 95.5%) of those households while (13,000 or 4.5%) had outdoor spas.

There were 271,300 households (19.2%) with playground equipment. The most popular type of playground equipment amongst these households were swings (188,400 or 69.5%) followed by trampolines (132,400 or 48.8%).

Nearly half of all households (48.6% or 685,800) had an adjustable hot water thermostat. Just over one quarter (27.0% or 381,100) of households reported they did not know whether the hot water system had an adjustable thermostat.

Just under one third of households (466,000 or 33.1%) had at least one resident who had undertaken first aid training in the last three years, which included cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

1 ALL HOUSEHOLDS, Potential safety hazards and features affecting young children(a)

Brisbane Major Statistical Region

Balance of QueenslandMajor Statistical Region

Total Queensland

Young children

No young children

Total

Young children

No young children

Total

Young children

No young children

Total

NUMBER ('000)

Anti-slip surfaces or strips in bath or shower

50.7

117.3

168.1

59.2

141.9

201.1

110.0

259.2

369.2

Internal or external steps or stairs

115.5

350.8

466.4

140.5

383.3

523.8

256.0

734.1

990.2

with guards or gates

46.6

66.6

113.2

50.9

79.0

129.8

97.5

145.6

243.1

Smoke alarm or smoke detector

129.0

337.9

466.8

138.2

368.7

506.9

267.2

706.6

973.7

Frequency of testing

More than once a month

21.0

43.7

64.7

18.2

43.0

61.2

39.2

86.7

125.9

Monthly to less than 3 monthly

28.1

71.1

99.2

39.0

72.9

111.9

67.0

144.0

211.0

3 monthly to less than 6 monthly

12.6

44.5

57.2

14.9

44.4

59.3

27.5

88.9

116.5

6 monthly to less than yearly

14.8

30.1

44.9

13.2

52.5

65.7

28.0

82.6

110.6

Once a year or less

9.7

27.4

37.1

13.2

34.4

47.6

22.9

61.9

84.7

Never, self testing/electric alarm

14.2

38.2

52.4

14.2

37.4

51.6

28.4

75.5

104.0

Never

23.0

71.1

94.2

21.4

73.7

95.1

44.4

144.8

189.2

Don't know

*5.5

11.7

17.2

*4.2

10.4

14.5

9.7

22.1

31.7

Total

129.0

337.9

466.8

138.2

368.7

506.9

267.2

706.6

973.7

Swimming pool or outdoor spa

41.7

93.5

135.2

45.4

110.2

155.6

87.1

203.7

290.8

Playground equipment

66.1

41.2

107.3

88.3

75.6

163.9

154.4

116.9

271.3

Adjustable hot water thermostat

Yes

87.6

245.8

333.4

103.4

249.0

352.4

191.1

494.8

685.8

No

36.9

110.2

147.1

50.3

145.6

195.9

87.2

255.8

342.9

Don't know

36.3

126.6

162.9

45.9

172.3

218.2

82.2

298.8

381.1

Resident with first aid training & CPR

During the last 3 years

60.5

144.5

205.0

76.5

184.5

261.0

137.0

329.0

466.0

3 years or more

47.2

127.9

175.1

62.8

152.8

215.6

110.0

280.8

390.8

Total

107.7

272.5

380.1

139.3

337.3

476.7

247.0

609.8

856.8

Total Households

160.8

482.5

643.4

199.7

566.8

766.5

360.5

1,049.4

1,409.9

PROPORTION (%)

Anti-slip surfaces or strips in bath or shower

31.5

24.3

26.1

29.7

25.0

26.2

30.5

24.7

26.2

Internal or external steps or stairs

71.8

72.7

72.5

70.4

67.6

68.3

71.0

70.0

70.2

with guards or gates

29.0

13.8

17.6

25.5

13.9

16.9

27.0

13.9

17.2

Smoke alarm or smoke detector

80.2

70.0

72.6

69.2

65.0

66.1

74.1

67.3

69.1

Frequency of testing

More than once a month

13.1

9.1

10.1

9.1

7.6

8.0

10.9

8.3

8.9

Monthly to less than 3 monthly

17.5

14.7

15.4

19.5

12.9

14.6

18.6

13.7

15.0

3 monthly to less than 6 monthly

7.9

9.2

8.9

7.4

7.8

7.7

7.6

8.5

8.3

6 monthly to less than yearly

9.2

6.2

7.0

6.6

9.3

8.6

7.8

7.9

7.8

Once a year or less

6.0

5.7

5.8

6.6

6.1

6.2

6.3

5.9

6.0

Never, self testing/electric alarm

8.8

7.9

8.1

7.1

6.6

6.7

7.9

7.2

7.4

Never

14.3

14.7

14.6

10.7

13.0

12.4

12.3

13.8

13.4

Don't know

*3.4

2.4

2.7

*2.1

1.8

1.9

2.7

2.1

2.3

Total

80.2

70.0

72.6

69.2

65.0

66.1

74.1

67.3

69.1

Swimming pool or outdoor spa

25.9

19.4

21.0

22.7

19.4

20.3

24.2

19.4

20.6

Playground equipment

41.1

8.5

16.7

44.2

13.3

21.4

42.8

11.1

19.2

Adjustable hot water thermostat

Yes

54.5

50.9

51.8

51.8

43.9

46.0

53.0

47.2

48.6

No

22.9

22.8

22.9

25.2

25.7

25.6

24.2

24.4

24.3

Don't know

22.6

26.2

25.3

23.0

30.4

28.5

22.8

28.5

27.0

Resident with first aid training & CPR

During the last 3 years

37.6

29.9

31.9

38.3

32.6

34.1

38.0

31.4

33.1

3 years or more

29.4

26.5

27.2

31.4

27.0

28.1

30.5

26.8

27.7

Total

66.9

56.5

59.1

69.8

59.5

62.2

68.5

58.1

60.8

Total Households

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

* estimate has a relative standard error of between 25% and 50% and should be used with caution.(a) Young children are aged 4 years or less and are usual residents of the household or visitors who visit once a week or more often.

* estimate has a relative standard error of between 25% and 50% and should be used with caution.(a) Older persons are aged 60 years or more and are usual residents of the household or visitors who visit once a week or more often.